Higher allostatic load score, indicating greater levels of chronic psychosocial stress, linked to lower fecundability<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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MONDAY, Sept. 26, 2022 (HealthDay News) — Women with a higher allostatic load score may have lower fecundability, according to a study published online Sept. 21 in Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica<\/em>.<\/p>\n Xiang Hong, Dr.P.H., from Southeast University in Nanjing, China, and colleagues examined the association between female prepregnancy allostatic load, measured by nine indicators with a load score of 0 to 6, and time to pregnancy among 444 women. The nine indicators were: systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, plasma cortisol, noradrenaline, interleukin-6, hypersensitive C-reactive protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and body mass index.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the cumulative pregnancy rate over 12 months was 55.4 percent for an allostatic load score of 0, 44.5 percent for an allostatic load of 1 to 2, 50.9 percent for an allostatic load of 3 to 4, and 26.9 percent for an allostatic load of 5 to 6. When adjusting for potential confounding factors, an allostatic load of 5 to 6 was associated with a 59 percent reduction in fecundability versus an allostatic load of 0 (fecundability ratio, 0.41).<\/p>\n “Women with a higher allostatic load score may have lower fecundability,” the authors write. “Our findings suggest that the assessment of allostatic load during preconception consultation would be highly prudent.”<\/p>\n